James A. Ekin
Encyclopedia
James Adams Ekin was a Union Army
general in the American Civil War
. He achieved fame as a member of the military commission trying the conspirators involved with the assassination of President
Abraham Lincoln
.
, to James and Susan Burling (Bayard) Ekin. His mother was a daughter of Colonel
Stephen A. Bayard of the Continental Army
. He served an apprenticeship as a steamboat builder, which eventually led to his first career as a steamboat builder in Pittsburgh.
, Ekin enlisted April 25, 1861 in the 12th Pennsylvania Infantry (a 3-month regiment) as a lieutenant and was assigned regimental quartermaster. Ekin mustered out with the regiment on August 5, 1861 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
. He was subsequently promoted captain and assistant quartermaster August 7, 1861 and served in the Quartermaster's Department. Ekin and was promoted to lieutenant colonel
February 15, 1864, then promoted again to colonel
August 2, 1864. He was brevetted
in the regular army major
, lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigadier general
, all on March 13, 1865. In addition to his volunteer ranks, Ekin was made a captain in the regular army March 13, 1863, lieutenant colonel and deputy quartermaster general July 29, 1865.
, as assistant quartermaster, 1861–1863; at Washington, D.C.
, as quartermaster of the cavalry bureau, 1863–1864; as chief quartermaster of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac
, in 1864; as officer in charge of the 1st division, Quartermaster General's Office, Washington, D.C., 1864–1870; as chief quartermaster of the 5th District, Department of Texas, Department of the South, and Department of Louisville, Kentucky until his retirement.
July 23, 1877, who served as the 36th Governor of Kentucky
, 1907–1911. William M. Ekin followed in his father's career and joined the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of captain in the Quartermaster's Department.
Ekin died March 27, 1891 in Louisville, Kentucky
and was buried in Cave Hill National Cemetery.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
general in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He achieved fame as a member of the military commission trying the conspirators involved with the assassination of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
.
Early life
Ekin was born August 31, 1819 in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, to James and Susan Burling (Bayard) Ekin. His mother was a daughter of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Stephen A. Bayard of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. He served an apprenticeship as a steamboat builder, which eventually led to his first career as a steamboat builder in Pittsburgh.
Civil War
At the outbreak of the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Ekin enlisted April 25, 1861 in the 12th Pennsylvania Infantry (a 3-month regiment) as a lieutenant and was assigned regimental quartermaster. Ekin mustered out with the regiment on August 5, 1861 at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. He was subsequently promoted captain and assistant quartermaster August 7, 1861 and served in the Quartermaster's Department. Ekin and was promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
February 15, 1864, then promoted again to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
August 2, 1864. He was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
in the regular army major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
, lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, all on March 13, 1865. In addition to his volunteer ranks, Ekin was made a captain in the regular army March 13, 1863, lieutenant colonel and deputy quartermaster general July 29, 1865.
Lincoln assassination trial
Despite his excellent service in the Army quartermaster department, Ekin is remembered largely for his participation as a member of the military tribunal that heard the case against eight conspirators in the assassination of President Lincoln.Post-war service
Ekin remained in the U.S. Army following the Civil War with the rank of lieutenant colonel and deputy quartermaster general until February 13, 1882 when he was promoted to colonel. He retired from the Army on August 31, 1883.Posts
Ekin served at Pittsburgh, as acting assistant commissary of subsistence in 1861; at Indianapolis, IndianaIndianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, as assistant quartermaster, 1861–1863; at Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, as quartermaster of the cavalry bureau, 1863–1864; as chief quartermaster of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
, in 1864; as officer in charge of the 1st division, Quartermaster General's Office, Washington, D.C., 1864–1870; as chief quartermaster of the 5th District, Department of Texas, Department of the South, and Department of Louisville, Kentucky until his retirement.
Family
Ekin married Diana Craighead Walker and together they had five children: James Adams (1844–1847), Nancy Walker (1845–1868), Mary Elizabeth (1847–1934), Susan Bayard (1849), and William Moody (1853–1907). Mary Elizabeth Ekin married Augustus Everett WillsonAugustus E. Willson
Augustus Everett Willson was the 36th Governor of Kentucky. Orphaned at the age of twelve, Willson went to live with relatives in New England...
July 23, 1877, who served as the 36th Governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
, 1907–1911. William M. Ekin followed in his father's career and joined the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of captain in the Quartermaster's Department.
Ekin died March 27, 1891 in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and was buried in Cave Hill National Cemetery.
In popular culture
Eakin is portrayed in the film The Conspirator (2010) by actor John Deifer.See also
- List of American Civil War generals